And just like that, it's November again.
For most of my life, November was a month I never gave much thought to. Growing up, it always felt like the sort of insignificant stretch of time between two much more exciting months. October had Halloween, December had Christmas, and November had…well, Thanksgiving, but even that was never a particularly big deal in our house.
It was usually just the four of us: my mom, my brother, my sister, and me. We'd have a turkey, a handful of sides, and call it a day. There weren't a bunch of relatives gathered around the table or people coming and going throughout the afternoon. It was nice, of course, but it never carried the same anticipation as the holidays on either side of it did.
As a kid, November was simply the month you had to get through before Christmas could begin. It’s funny how things change as you get older, isn't it? Because throughout the years, I have realized that November became one of my favorite months of the entire year.
I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that November doesn't ask very much of us. October is full of excitement and traditions and trying to squeeze in every last fall activity before the season slips away. December, as wonderful as it is, comes with its own set of expectations. There are presents to buy, parties to attend, decorations to put up, and a seemingly endless list of things to do before Christmas morning.
But to me, November feels like a deep breath.
It's the month when the clocks go back and suddenly it's dark before we've even started thinking about dinner. I know a lot of people dread this time of year, but I absolutely love it. There's something about looking out the window at 5:30 in the evening and seeing nothing but darkness that makes being inside feel that much more comforting and cozy.
It's an excuse to turn on all the lamps, light a few candles, pour a glass of wine, and put something delicious on the stove. Usually a big pot of soup or some kind of pasta that requires a little more time and attention than I'd normally give it. Maybe there's music playing in the background, the kids are scattered throughout the house doing their own things, and PJ and I are catching up on our days while dinner cooks.
It’s ordinary and normal and nothing particularly exciting is happening, and that's exactly what makes it so wonderful.
I've been thinking a lot lately about the Danish concept of hygge, which, if you're unfamiliar, is essentially the art of creating a feeling of coziness, comfort, and contentment through life's simplest pleasures. It's not necessarily about what your home looks like or how many candles you have burning, although I certainly won't turn down an excuse to buy another one. It's more about how a moment feels.
Like a warm meal on a cold evening. A blanket pulled over your legs while watching a movie. The sound of rain against the windows. Staying in on a Friday night and being genuinely happy that you have nowhere else to be. And I think November might be the perfect month to practice it.
There's something really lovely about a month that encourages us to turn inward a little. To spend more time at home. To make the recipes we've been saving, finally start that book on the nightstand, or sit around the dinner table a little longer than usual.
I think when we're younger, we tend to measure the goodness of a season by how much is happening. The holidays, the parties, the vacations, the big moments we look forward to all year long. But the older I get, the more I find myself appreciating the smaller stretches in between, like the ordinary evenings when everyone is home and the feeling of having nowhere to go and nothing particularly pressing to do is in full swing.
Of course, our Novembers look a little different these days than they did when I was growing up. Thanksgiving has become a much bigger family affair, and with three kids, there's rarely a shortage of things happening around here. Our calendars certainly aren't empty, and I know the holidays will be here before we know it.
But maybe that's all the more reason to appreciate this little window of time while we have it.
Before the Christmas music starts playing nonstop and before the shopping lists get longer and before we're swept up in all the wonderful chaos that comes with the end of the year, we get these few weeks to just be.
We get to watch the leaves finish falling and pull out our favorite sweaters and make another pot of soup. We get to go to bed a little earlier and wake up to chilly mornings.
And maybe, if we're lucky, we realize that we don't always need something exciting on the calendar to have something worth looking forward to.
So here's to November! To early sunsets and slow evenings, to good food and warm houses, and to finding a little more joy in the everyday. It might not be the flashiest month of the year, but I'm beginning to think that's exactly why I love it so much.